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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
U.S. President Joe Biden attends a press conference during NATO’s 75th anniversary summit, in Washington, U.S., July 11, 2024. (Reuters)
Biden confused Kamala Harris and Trump shortly after he confused Putin and Zelenskyy at a different event
US President Joe Biden made major gaffes during the NATO Summit on Thursday amid growing calls for him to step aside, which mounted following a lackluster debate against his Republican rival Donald Trump.
Addressing a news conference following the NATO Summit in Washington, Biden confused Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump shortly after he confused Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a different event.
‘Wouldn’t have picked Trump’
When asked whether Harris could beat Donald Trump if he decided not to run again, Biden said: “I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I did not think she was not qualified to be president.” His answer was met with gasps and groans from journalists, the New York Post reported.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin’
The 81-year-old US president, known for making several embarrassing slips of the tongue and currently under scrutiny over his mental fitness, earlier introduced Zelensky as Putin at a NATO ceremony before correcting himself. “Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said.
He quickly corrected himself, saying, “I’m so focused on beating President Putin, we’ve got to worry about it.” But the momentary lapse quickly revived memories of his debate two weeks earlier against Trump — he had failed in his own task, to reassure the public he still had his wits.
HE CANNOT BE STOPPED!!Biden: “I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be Vice President if she’s not qualified to be President.” pic.twitter.com/KXaEI3KBWr
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) July 11, 2024
‘Great job, Joe’
Republican presumptive nominee Trump was quick to mock Biden while the US president made verbal slips during a high-stakes press conference. “Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference with, ‘I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president… Great job, Joe!” Trump said on his Truth Social site.
Seeking to allay concerns about his mental fitness as he seeks reelection, Biden said that neurological exams found he was in “good shape.” “I’ve taken three significant and intense neurological exams by a neurologist,” Biden said, the most recent in February. “And they say I’m in good shape.”
‘Most qualified’
The US President also denied needing to be in bed by 8:00 pm as he faced a barrage of questions from reporters about a disastrous debate performance that sparked calls for him to end his reelection bid. Reports of his early bedtime were “not true,” although he added: “Instead of my every day starting at 7:00 am and going to bed at midnight, it would be smarter for me to pace myself a little more.”
Biden insisted that he was the “most qualified” American to take on Trump in November’s presidential election. “I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once, and I will beat him again,” Biden said, adding that he is “not in this for my legacy” but to “complete the job I started.”
(With agency inputs)
